R. Sellars & Co.

Sellars was opened in 1903 by Robert Sellars on the corner of John and William Streets. Mr Sellars was considered a ‘man with a vision’ (according to the Rosewood Marburg News 26 March 1958 page 5), as he saw the possibilities of expanding the business in this area. Initially, Mr and Mrs Sellars and their family resided in the rear of the shop, though they moved into a house in Albert Street in 1914 as their family expanded.

Mr Arthur King was the first customer to enter the store in 1903 and remained a loyal customer for well over 50 years. He recalled those early years and remembered one time walking over planks to get into the rear of the shop as there was a hole of water some eight or nine feet under the bridge. A small creek flowed behind the store. At the time, a pair of boots cost 5/-, bread was 2d a loaf, 25 lb of corned beef cost 2/6, and it cost about 30/- a month to live (Rosewood and Marburg News, 26 March 1958 p 5).

Initially, all store items were delivered by horse and wagon; it often took four horses to drag the wagon through the mud. The store sold fruit, vegetables, soft drinks (from Mr Thomas Barnes in Ipswich) cooled by a ‘refrigerator’ of damp sawdust, and drapery items. From 1918-1926, Mr Sellars also ran a car hire service.

Prior to 1958, there were three shops on that block, Sellars, Maxwells and Leonards drapery. The fire at the Commercial Hotel opposite caused damage to the frontage of the shops. When Sellars rebuilt, it extended across the other properties. 

On 1 April 1958, R. Sellars and Co. opened a new store of fibro with a concrete floor ‘shaded in green for coolness’. The new building, as well as the internal fittings, was completed by Gus Reinhardt, a former Public Works Department employee. During the demolition of the old building, Gus found 2 pennies from 1885 and a bottle of beer.

A vivid description of the new complex appeared in the local paper just prior to the new shop’s opening day:

The floor contains 360 bags of cement. Roof is of galvanised iron and front is new open style with large glass sliding panel doors. In effect, the whole shop when brightly lit becomes a showroom. Interior walls are in Dresden-blue with English Primrose Ceiling. Fixtures and Gondolas are April-green with mushroom and black trimmings. Fruit stand is black and white with stainless steel strips. Three set-in mirrors complete a most unusual effect. Fifteen fluorescent tubes transform the building into almost daylight brightness… Facing above the awning is finished in pastel shades of blossom-pink, matt-spice, bower green and calypso rose…                           Rosewood Marburg News 26 March 1958 p 5.

The sawdust ‘refrigerator’ was replaced by a cold room with a capacity of 350 cubic feet in the new building.

The store always prided itself on quick and efficient personal service as well as value for money for the items sold. They offered free delivery to city and country, phone orders were promptly executed, orders sent with children received personal attention and all fruit and vegetables were fresh daily in this self-service store.   Rosewood Marburg News 26 March 1958 p 5.

"A long counter than ran up the side of the shop with stock on shelves on the wall. Staff got what you wanted, you paid & put it in your sugar or string bag & home you went. Out the back was produce stores for grains, metho & kero that was bottled etc, this had access from an entry on the side road. They had a haberdashery section on the opposite side of the shop to the grocery." Doug Stephan

Sellars upgraded their store when Nifty Thrifty next door introduced the new self-serve concept. 

That block of shops has changed over time, trading as Sellars Supa Valu, IGA Supa Valu, Foodtown and Drakes Supermarket. During these changes it has included a butcher shop called Meatworld run by Alton Walker and a  coffee shop called Klassix Coffee & Art in the mid 80’s run by Sandra Bromage.

The current site

The largest part of this block now contains Drakes, carrying on the services of the original grocer and inside you will find huge historical photographs of Rosewood, including the old Sellars store, on the walls. Moving towards William Street are the chemist, doctors and pathologist.